Clam Quilt Started

My birthday was on Sunday. It was the big 39, which means I've got one more year til forty. 39 might be more depressing/scary than 40 to tell you the truth. You start looking back at what you've done, accomplished, missed and want to have happen in the future. Glad to say, very few regrets and lots of good times. So it came and it went. And even my mom kinda forgot, which, come on, even a mom should remember her own kids birthdays right?!

Anyway, it's been one of those weeks, you know, we all have them (still snowing, aaahh STILL SNOWING!!, everyone sick, house a wreck, no sleep, crappy day at work, etc.). Maybe you're having one right now. (If you are- sorry- hang in there, it gets mildly better. And then someone vacuums for you and the world is amazing).

So I started working on a new quilt, because, well it needed to happen. The very motions of cutting and piecing and putting things together without having to think about any other chore, or need-to-be-done, or worry is very meditative. I find the same thing when I draw. (Until I open what I've been drawing and find little people have "helped" the process along).

I'm not sure about the clam shell thing. I got the pattern by Latifah Saafir, off of Craftsy, cause I didn't feel like making my own when it's already been done (I'm all about efficiency). I started out cutting all the little notches into each piece, but quickly got tired of that and just hacked through the rest (again, efficiency...um, ok..laziness). I may regret that decision later. I need to also work on some more colour placement, but that will get there.

The designing part is always what takes the most time for me. I rearrange things probably more than I should. I don't think I could do without a design wall. My design wall is a bed protector sheet I got from Target. It's vinyl on one side and a flannel on the other. I just bought the queen sized sheet and stapled it to the wall. Easy-peasey and only a few minor holes in the wall. Or you could use it on the floor. I found that the vinyl back made it easy to roll and unroll without any pieces getting stick to the backside if you know what I mean.

I also have plans on quilting the Star Wars quilt this week. The FAL quarter finish is coming up fast and I need to get some more things done.

So if you're somewhere nice (like most of my teacher friends on spring break right now), look me up on Instagram (@jehnnymiller) and send me a pic of beautiful skies or beautiful fabric!

Linking up with Freshly Pieced as always!